Tuesday, September 17, 2013

A CRAZY Four Weeks

I looked at my last post and realized I hadn't written in 4 weeks -- that might be a record. It's been a really crazy month here at Kitschy Vintage land -- in a good news-bad news, up-and-down emotions sort of way.

I don't normally share much personal stuff, partly because I know that everything posted online lives forever and also because I can't really believe that my life is anywhere near as interesting to you all as great vintage finds. This time, though, I'm making an exception.

Bad News -- Mr. KV had a heart attack a month ago and spent several days in the hospital. It wasn't the first time he's had heart trouble, but that doesn't make it any easier to go through (for him or me). Good News -- Thankfully, the heart attack was fairly mild and didn't do any damage. They were able to clear the affected artery with a stent, rather than surgery. It was still really scary, though!

Bad News -- When Mr. KV got sick, the entire garage was set up for a yard sale. Every table we could find was covered and piled up with household junk and LOTS of what-was-I-thinking items from my stash in the basement. It was terrible timing, but I had to go ahead with it, knowing that once Labor Day weekend was over, no one would be shopping sales. We were all exhausted but there was no going back.Good News -- My son and his wife are moving back to this side of the state, so he was around to help me move tables and furniture and get things set up. My friend Bargain Hunter knew how stressed I was about it and came over after work to help me price things. She's a master at running sales and is so calm about it that she makes it seem do-able -- she was a real life-saver! More Good News (I guess) -- With Mr. KV on total rest and not allowed to drive or go to work, he couldn't do anything but sit around, so he sat around in the garage and took people's money.

What was I thinking?

Did you ever see so many glasses?

We spent LOTS of time telling people that my Beetle wasn't for sale!

Junk, junk, junk!

Bad News -- Because it was a week & a half before Labor Day, the entire state of Michigan was on one last vacation before school started! Very few people were shopping the sales and they weren't buying. About half or more of my 'treasures' were left over. SIX loaded-van trips to Salvation Army later, I'm still tidying up the garage and trying to figure out where the leftovers will go...they're NOT going back to the basement!

Bad News (though minor) -- We had a mini-tornado go through our area and, while I don't think the tornado hit our yard, the high winds did. We lost almost all of the apple tree closest to our garden and half of the healthiest one by the barn. It not only made a lot of cleanup work, but I grieve over every lost tree because I'm such a greenie! I think the bumper crop of apples we have this year contributed, too.

The tree by the garden -- only one major branch is still upright. The tree almost split in half

Good News (and Bad News) -- I had a birthday. A BIG birthday -- one than ends in a zero. Those are both a blessing (have health and long life) and a curse (getting old isn't for sissies)... Mr. KV sent me a HUGE bouquet of beautiful roses, though and took me out to dinner.

This beautiful arrangement is about 3 feet tall! The vase alone is 18" -- there are LOTS of roses there!

Good News -- My sister & brother-in-law came up from Ohio to celebrate my birthday, too, and we had a great time (plus they took me out to dinner...birthday dinner #2). We had a great time, with lots of talking and laughter. They gave me this wonderful birthday gift (a big thank-you to my niece for seeing it on my wish list on the blog).

Fire King polka dots mixing bowl -- YAY!

My birthday was marred by a terribly sad event, though...

Bad News (and Good News) -- A dear friend and co-worker died on my actual birthday, after a very fast but difficult battle with breast cancer. She was in her early 50s and was much too young to leave us. All day long I got phone calls and text messages from friends telling me that she'd passed away and ending with 'Oh, by the way, happy birthday'. I'll miss her so much! Her funeral was on Labor Day weekend and the Good News is that it was a real celebration of her life and her strong faith and the knowledge that we'll see her again in heaven.

Good News -- I'm going to be a grandmother for the first time in January! I've known for a while, but wasn't allowed to tell yet.The other good news is that it's a girl! As the mother of three boys, I can't wait to have a little girl to play with -- I've got all the vintage toys and dishes she could want and still have my baby doll, Ginny Vogue doll and Barbies to play with!

It's a girl!

Good News -- The weekend after my sister and brother-in-law left, my son from Florida and his girlfriend came in to town for a long weekend. They also took us out to dinner -- it was birthday dinner #3 *SWEET!* It was so good to see them and get to hang out -- Florida is just too far away! Since my son and Mr. KV were going to a football game and playing golf, I got to spend some precious time with my son's girlfriend -- always a blessing!

In between heart attacks, sales, birthdays & visits, I've been trying to put the garage back in order (so we can pull our cars in again), continuing to work through organizing the basement, and keeping the Etsy shop and booth stocked. It seems like I haven't had a minute to regroup and figure out what's next.

I think things are getting back to normal. The 'normal' of shopping and keeping and selling...and telling you all about great finds and fun transformations. The basement reorganization is almost complete and I can get to my sewing machine again. I've got so many ideas of creative projects to do -- I'll keep you posted on their progress. Hopefully, the next post won't be four weeks away!

About Me

I'm a born collector and lover of all things old & unusual. My passion to collect, create & repurpose has now spilled over into an Etsy shop and a booth at a local antiques mall. Finding treasures that haven't been loved in a long time is so much fun!